Pet Waste Cleaning Device

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner device is provided that comprises an automated disposable container device configured to place an unused disposable container for collecting vacuumed debris. In accordance with some embodiments, the vacuum cleaner device may be advantageous for collecting pet waste.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/447,736 filed Sep. 15, 2021, entitled “Pet WasteCleaning Device,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in thepresent application.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/447,736 claims the benefit ofpriority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/078,553 filedSep. 15, 2020, entitled “Rechargeable pet waste cleaner,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to portable vacuum cleaner devices, andin particular vacuum cleaner devices for collecting pet waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a portable vacuumcleaner device having a housing, a motor-fan unit, and an automateddisposable container device.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a portable vacuumcleaner device having a housing, a motor-fan unit, a motor, a balloonbag exchanger device operatively connected to the motor, and a wastecollection compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An understanding of embodiments described in this disclosure and many ofthe related advantages may be readily obtained by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered with the accompanyingdrawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a vacuum cleaner device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an example operation of a vacuum cleanerdevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a diagram of a balloon bag exchanger device according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3B is a diagram of a balloon bag exchanger device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A. Introduction

Inventor(s) for this application have recognized that, in accordancewith some embodiments described in this disclosure, some types of petowners and caregivers for pets would find it beneficial to have aportable cleaner device for collecting pet droppings and waste withoutcollecting the waste by hand and/or may find it beneficial to have aportable cleaner device for collecting pet droppings and waste withouthaving to bend down to pick up the waste.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a vacuumcleaner device comprises an automated disposable container device forstoring multiple disposable containers.

In some embodiments, the automated disposable container device isconfigured to place a disposable container in the stream of suctionedmaterial (e.g., pet waste, dust, debris).

In some embodiments, the automated disposable container device isconfigured to place a new disposable container in the stream ofsuctioned material after a previous disposable container is used. Forexample, the automated disposable container device may be configured torotate a second disposable container into the suctioned air pathwayafter a first disposable container is used.

In some embodiments, a disposable container may comprise a bag, flexibleballoon, or balloon bag.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a vacuumcleaner device comprises a housing containing a balloon bag exchangerdevice configured to store multiple balloon bags and to rotate a secondballoon bag into the suctioned stream after a first balloon bag is usedto collect vacuumed debris.

According to one embodiment, an example vacuum cleaner device is a slimportable rechargeable cleaner device, almost as slim as a walking cane.One proposed use of the example device is for getting rid of pet wastein a manner advantageous to dog walkers and other pet caretakers. Forinstance, the example device may replace the traditional way of gettingrid of dog waste with a plastic bag and may help older dog owners whohave difficulty bending down to pick up their dogs' waste.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example vacuum cleaner device 100 comprising atleast one rechargeable battery 106 that powers an electric motor 108 forsuction. As shown in the example, electric motor 108 is operativelyconnected to drive a suction fan 110 that generates a suction forcesufficient for collecting solid waste such as pet waste.

According to some embodiments, just below the suction fan 110 of theexample vacuum cleaner device 100 is an example balloon bag exchangerdevice 116. As depicted in FIG. 4, the balloon bag exchanger device 116may comprise one or more respective bags in its one or more circulararms 124 a-d.

Preferably, in accordance with some embodiments, the balloon bagexchanger device 116 is powered by a second electric motor 118 that isconfigured to make a number of short rotations equal to the number ofarms 124 a-d. For instance, if the example balloon bag exchanger device116 comprises four arms, then the electric motor 118 would be configuredto make four rotations, each a quarter of a circle. In each shortrotation, an arm of the balloon bag exchanger device 116 would be placedin the stream of suction force (e.g., created by suction fan 110).

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the example vacuum cleaner device 100may comprise a housing 102 and a power button 104 for starting andstopping electric motor 108 and/or electric motor 118. Vents 121 mayprovide for ventilation. The example vacuum cleaner device 100 mayfurther comprise a waste compartment 112 for receiving used balloon bagsfrom balloon bag exchanger device 116 (e.g., after the bags receivevacuumed waste). The example vacuum cleaner device 100 may furthercomprise a lid for disposing bags 114 for access to waste compartment112 to remove any used bags. In one embodiment, the example vacuumcleaner device 100 comprises a wheel 120 to assist in moving the vacuumcleaner device 100 along the ground or floor. The example vacuum cleanerdevice 100 may further comprise an intake port 122 for receiving petwaste and other debris into the vacuum cleaner device 100.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict an example operation of the example vacuumcleaner device 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the two arrows at the bottom ofthe device 100 indicate that the waste 123 is initially swept into theintake port or receiving opening 122, where it is sucked up. As shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, as the waste 123 shoots up, a bag 125 at arm 124 a,positioned by the balloon bag exchanger device 116 in the path of thesuction stream, traps the vacuumed debris 123. The force of the vacuumeddebris 123 detaches the balloon bag 125 from its arm (e.g., arm 124 a)and the balloon bag 126, containing the collected waste (not shown), isdeposited in the waste compartment 112.

According to an example operation of the vacuum cleaner device inaccordance with one or more embodiments, the balloon bag exchangerdevice 116 then makes a short rotation, positioning another arm with afresh bag ready for the next use.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vacuum cleaner device comprising: a motor; andan automated disposable container device operatively connected to themotor.
 2. The vacuum cleaner device of claim 1, wherein the automateddisposable container device comprises a balloon bag exchanger device. 3.The vacuum cleaner device of claim 1, wherein the automated disposablecontainer device comprises a plurality of arms, each arm beingconfigured to hold a respective disposable container.
 4. The vacuumcleaner device of claim 1, wherein the automated disposable containerdevice comprises a plurality of disposable containers.
 5. The vacuumcleaner device of claim 1, further comprising: a waste compartmentconfigured to receive used disposable containers.
 6. The vacuum cleanerdevice of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to activate theautomated disposable container device to place a disposable container ina suction stream of the vacuum cleaner device.
 7. A vacuum cleanerdevice comprising: a housing containing: a first motor; a suction fanoperatively connected to the first motor; a second motor; a balloon bagexchanger device operatively connected to the second motor; and a wastecompartment for receiving used balloon bags.